Title: The Dragon 4
By: Tiffany F
Pairing: Gil/Nick & Jim/Warrick
Rating: FRM
Series: part of The Dragon Chronicles
Summary: The discussion between Al and Gil. Plus they are wondering about Jim. Is he or isn't he? I don't own anything CSI related and am just playing around.

"So when, exactly, were you planning to tell me about Doc Robbins?" Nick asked as he and Gil were cleaning up the kitchen.

Gil smiled. "Al mentioned dragons during that case with the husband and wife killed in their driveway, no doubt to see what my reaction to such impossible creatures was," he said. "He came up to my office later that night and more or less confronted me."

~~**~~flashback~~**~~

"I know, Gil," Al said, shutting the office door behind him.

"I'm sure there's a wide range of facts you can claim knowledge of," Gil replied, putting down the report he was working on. "What specific item are you referring to tonight?"

Doc Robbins sat down and looked at his friend. "You're changing, Gil," he said. "You found your mate. It can't have been too long ago because you haven't stabilized yet."

"And you base this observation on what?" Gil asked, eyebrow raised.

"Cards on the table; I'm a dragon, Gil," Robbins said. "I'm unchanged but I know what to look for in others. So, who is it?"

"If you know what to look for, Albert, why didn't you pick up on it before now?"

"Because an unchanged dragon looks no different from a human," Robbins replied. "But now that you have changed and found your mate there are signs that all dragons will be able to pick up on." He smiled. "So come on, tell me, who is it."

Gil held up a hand. "One more question as this is all quite new to me," he said, smiling. "Are there any more of us in the department?"

"Not in CSI," Robbins said. "At least not changed; on the force I don't know; I don't interact with the cops that often. I do keep my eyes open thought for any unchanged aging dragons. As I'm sure you know by now they can get sick and modern medicine doesn't do much to help."

"So I imagine," Gil said. "Do you have books I can read?"

Robbins looked puzzled. "Your human mate should have those," he said. "Am I going to have to guess who it is? Please tell me it's not Sara."

Both men shuddered. "No," Gil said, quite firmly. "Not Sara; not even close really."

"A man then," Robbins said. "It's most likely someone you work with and I'm sure it would've made the papers not to mention the grapevine here if you had changed at a local scene." He paused for a minute and looked quite pleased with himself. "Nick; at that desert scene the suspect set on fire."

"Officially," Gil said, looking embarrassed.

"Oh Gil, you didn't," Robbins exclaimed, laughing.

"So I'm told," Grissom admitted. "I don't remember any of it. Now, what about those books and journals?"

"Doesn't Nick have any?"

"Oh yes, yes he does; about five boxes worth for an unchanged man he knew back in Texas," Gil said. "I'd just like to read as much as I can as I had no idea this was even scientifically possible. It's fascinating."

"It is," Robbins agreed. "I'll have to dig through my collection and see what I can find."

"Thanks, Al," Gil said. "How many of us are there?"

"I don't think anyone knows for sure," Robbins said. "So many are like you, unaware of their heritage until they find their mate. And I hope you know how lucky you are; the true mate parings are growing rare."

Gil sighed. "I do know how lucky I am, Al; in more ways than one."

~~**~~end flashback~~**~~

"He just told you?" Nick asked, astounded.

"He'd picked up on my changes," Gil replied, laughing. "Al was even able to figure out you're my mate. It sounds like he tries to be a grandfather to any dragon he meets."

"Doc Robbins has a big heart," Nick said, shaking his head in awe.

Grissom smiled. "Yes he does; it's in a jar in a freezer at work," Gil said. "I believe it's a teaching aid."

"Oh man, I walked into that one," Nick laughed. "So, what about Jim? Do you think he's just unchanged as well or what?"

"I think all we can do is watch over him and make sure he learns," Gil replied. He walked over to Nick and ran his hands up under the younger man's shirt. "And support him regardless of what happens."

"Hmmmm, you keep doing that and we're not going anywhere for a while," Nick murmured, arching back against Gil.

Grissom looked up from the feast that was Nick's neck and left ear; eyes glowing. "That sounds like a plan to me," he said softly.
********************

Grissom was in his office the next night looking through his books for an obscure reference when he caught a whiff of hair gel and aftershave. "What do you need, Greg?" he asked, not turning around.

"How'd you know it was me?"

"If you want to be a good CSI, Greg, you'll stop wearing things that smell," Gil said. "I can smell your hair gel and your aftershave. How do you expect to be able to smell anything at a scene if your olfactory senses are deadened?"

Greg frowned, puzzled. "I didn't think they were that strong," he said. "But thanks for the heads up, Gris. I'll do some shopping over the next week or so and see what I can come up with. They have to make odorless hair gel."

"Greg," Grissom said, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses, "did you want something specific or are you just looking for something to do?"

"Huh, oh, I finished that chemical analysis and came up empty," Greg said. "So what do you want me to do now?"

"Go see if anyone needs your help," Gil replied. "That is unless you have lab work to do."

"Nope, I'm good," Greg replied, all but bouncing out of the office.

"Were we ever like that?" Jim asked, a bemused smile on his face as he watched Greg almost dance down the hall.

Gil raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I ever had that much energy even when I was Greg's age," he said. "So, how're you doing, Jim?"

"Worried about me, Gil? I'm touched," Jim replied. He sat down and looked at his friend. "Seriously, I was up almost all day reading. Al said there's no way to know for sure unless something happens so he wants me to learn as much as I can."

"If it does then you have a head start on me," Gil said. "Could you shut the door, Nick?"

"Sure thing." Nick moved into the office and perched on the desk, facing the detective. "You're a mystery, Jim," he said. "With Gil I knew the instant I saw him but I don't get anything from you."

"Could be because you're bonded," Jim said. "I know who I'd like it to be but there's no way it could ever happen."

Nick and Gil looked at each other. They knew of two people in the CSI labs who had been softly flirting with Brass for a while and that, if Jim was an unchanged dragon, one of them could be his mate.

"Who?" Nick asked, trying not to smile.

"Uh uh, that's my secret," Jim said.

A knock at the door interrupted any reply Nick could have made. "Gil, we've got another desert crime scene," Catherine said. "Do you want it since you took that other one?"

"Sure," Grissom said. "Nick, Jim, you guys up for a drive?"

"Sure, why not," Jim replied. "I could use the fresh air."


Grissom grabbed Warrick on the way out of the lab. As the quartet settled into Nick's Tahoe (Grissom in the front passenger seat, Jim and Warrick in back) Warrick was almost knocked over by what he only guessed was an air freshener. "Hey, that's nice," he choked. "How long has that been in here?"

"Oh, a couple of weeks," Nick said, thankful the darkness would hide his rising blush. "I spilled something in the back and nothing will get rid of the smell so I figured I'd just give up."

Gil looked out the window quickly so he wouldn't start laughing. He could feel the embarrassment rising off Nick in waves. He knew exactly what (or rather who) had spilled in the back of the Tahoe, several times, and there was no way either of them would admit to it.

"What'd you spill?" Warrick asked. "Maybe I could help."

"I wish I knew, man, but I had a bunch of stuff back there and it just started smelling weird," Nick replied. "Gris even told me to try lemon juice but it didn't work."

"That's rough, man," Warrick said. "So, what exactly are we looking at here? This ain't gonna be like last month, is it?"

"Hey, I helped clear that house," Jim said. "It had rooms filled with crap covered in dust sheets. I've never seen a bigger mess. What did the day shift finally come up with again, Gil?"

"Traces of accelerant upstairs," Grissom replied. He was glad the suspect had actually planned to burn down his crime scene as it saved embarrassing questions, like how the fire had actually started. "Mainly in the master bedroom. I didn't actually get to see the inside when it wasn't burning so I was unable to form an opinion."

Nick laughed. "That's such a typical Grissom answer," he said. "So what *are* we looking at?"

"According to the sheet it's a single DB in a house out in the desert," Gil said, trying not to smile over at Nick. "Someone called it in but there was no one on scene when officers arrived. They secured the scene and called us."

"Could be more than one killer from last time," Nick said. "The MO sounds the same and not a lot of details went to the media."

"Did we ever ID the vic or suspect last time?" Warrick asked. His tone was puzzled; he was waiting for Grissom to say something to Nick about trying to out-guess the evidence.

Brass was flipping through his notebook. "Thanks," he said to Warrick, taking the small flashlight. "The vic was 21-year-old Tom Davidson, UNLV student, reported missing by his roommate as week before we found him. The suspect was 26-year-old Frank Peterniski; man had a long rap sheet but nothing major until that murder last month."

"Employment?" Grissom asked.

"Nothing we could find," Brass said. "Either he was one of the floaters we get around here or it wasn't exactly legal work. But no matter how you look at it, there was something weird at that scene last month."

*yeah, me* Gil thought, glancing at Nick. He could tell the younger man had picked up on that thought and was trying hard not to laugh. Gil smirked and turned his attention back to the conversation. "Are you thinking drugs, Jim?"

"That would cover the bases," Brass said. "Including the violence, the remote location and what the victim and suspect had in common."

"Well, let's wait and see what the evidence tells us," Grissom said, looking out the window. He had that feeling again.
********************

The house could have been a twin to Nick and Grissom's scene the previous month. "Jim," Gil said, looking around. "Based on prior experience I think it might be a good idea for you and the officers to check under all dust sheets before we go to work."

Brass smiled. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea, if you don't mind us tramping around your crime scene."

"We'll live," Gil said dryly. "I'd just rather us all walk out of here alive and unharmed if possible."

"Uh huh," Jim said as he went over to join the other officers.

"While they're doing that why don't we see if the exterior has anything to tell us," Grissom said, looking at the young men next to him.

"Sure thing, Gris," Warrick said. He pulled out his flashlight and started towards the left of the house.

Nick looked over at Gil. "Are you all right?"

"Apprehensive," Gil replied.

"Your new instincts are picking up on something," Nick said softly. "Maybe you should call Brass and warn him."

"He knows to be careful," Gil said. He looked into Nick's eyes. "And we should probably get to work before Warrick gets any more suspicious."

Nick followed Grissom towards the right of the house. "What do you mean more?"

"In the Tahoe I didn't comment on your trying to out guess the evidence," Grissom said. "You had a legitimate point so I decided to let it go but I know he's wondering what's going on."

"Hey Grissom," Warrick called, his flashlight just visible. "I think I got something."

Just as Nick and Grissom joined Warrick in what had probably been a rose garden, gun shots echoed from the house and out into the empty night. Warrick and Nick had just drawn their weapons when someone burst out of the back door and started towards the emptiness of the open desert. A few seconds later, Brass come through the door and looked around.

"That way," Nick said, pulling Warrick to his feet.

"It's a death trap following him," Jim sighed. "I'm starting to think these guys just like killing cops."

"That's a viable hypothesis," Gil said from the darkness where he was examining the suspect's footprints.

"And we probably shouldn't be standing around talking about it," Warrick commented. "That dude could come back. I didn't hear an engine start up and I guarantee he didn't walk out here."

"Good point, Rick," Brass said. "Gil, I'm sure you want to start investigating the crime scene but I'm going to have to insist on more back-up. There's no way in hell we're splitting up on this one now."

Grissom looked over at his friend. "For once I won't argue," he said. "Do you think it's safe for us to go inside?"

"No," a strange voice said as an arm looped around Warrick's neck and a gun pressed in against his throat.

Several things happened at once but when asked about it later all Nick could remember was Jim Brass dropping his gun and flashlight and changing into a large silver dragon. Just as Nick went for a better look, his vision was blocked by a black wing.

"Gil, get Warrick!" Nick yelled. He watched his dragon's muscles bunch and then his friend was dropped gently behind the sheltering wing. Blue eyes met Nick's in a moment of understanding and Nick felt kinda sorry for the guy who tried to hurt Jim's mate.

"Nick," Warrick said, obviously struggling to regain some mental balance. "What the hell just happened?"

"Not now," Nick replied. "We need to stay here until Gil tells me it's safe for us to move. I am sorry, Rick; it's not how I would have chosen for you to find out."

"Find out what?" Warrick demanded.

"Later, I promise we'll tell you everything," Nick said. "But right now I really need to focus. I think Gil might have to challenge Jim for dominance and that could get really ugly."
********************

Anyone watching the scene from above would have seen a large black dragon crouched down, obviously hiding something under its left wing and a slightly smaller silver dragon with a body under its claws, looking as puzzled as a dragon ever could.

Finally it seemed to realize the threat was gone and shifted around, large head swaying, looking for its mate. The black dragon just watched, tense, in case there was any remaining danger to the humans it had tucked away.
********************

"It's okay," Nick said after a couple tense moments of silence. "Gil says you need to go out there and let Jim see you're all right."

"No way, man," Warrick said, folding his arms over his chest. "Not until you tell me one, what the hell is going on and two, where Gris and Brass are."

Nick sighed and touched the black scaled body next to him. "Gil, if it's really safe, I think you're going to have to move." He paused for a minute. "No, that could just freak him out more. I'll be fine; I trust you to keep me safe."

What Warrick thought was a black blanket lifted up to reveal a black dragon with very familiar blue eyes staring at him. Then a flash of silver caught his attention and Warrick's gaze shifted to a handsome silver dragon with brown eyes. Acting almost without his consent his feet carried him forward towards the obviously confused creature.

"Touch his neck, Warrick," Nick called from Gil's shadow. "You need to let him know you're okay.

"Is it safe?" Warrick asked, the more rational part of his brain sending danger signals and telling him to run.

"He can't hurt you," Nick said. "You need to help him change back. Just touch him and relax. If he feels any stress from you he won't change."

Warrick almost snorted in disbelief. He was about to touch a dragon to calm it down. The Grissom-trained scientist in him wanted to scoff at the thought that there were two dragons in the desert with him but he just couldn't deny what he was seeing.

"I think this is a first," Nick whispered to Gil, careful not to disturb the new bond pair in front of them.

"What?" Gil whispered in reply, wrapping his arms around Nick from behind.

"And untaught dragon and an untutored human male," Nick said. He leaned back against Gil's warm body. "I'm not even sure if Warrick likes guys."

"Will that matter now?"

Nick sighed. "It could; their bond and bodies will want to connect but if their minds fight it then it could go uncompleted and they'll both get sick." He glanced at Gil's watch. "Shift's over; why don't we look around inside and then call Brass in sick. We can turn this scene over to day shift and take Rick and Jim back to our place."

"I'll make the calls and also see if Al can meet us there," Gil said. He kissed Nick's cheek. "Stay with them; I'll look inside."
********************

When Jim finally opened his eyes it wasn't the desert around him but an unfamiliar bedroom with Al Robbins sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed.

"Welcome back, Jim," Al said, smiling. "And I hear congratulations are in order."

"Are they?" Jim asked. "What happened and why does my head hurt?"

"Well as usual the what is easier than the why," Al said. "You changed, Jim. Fortunately it was out in the desert where only Gil, Nick and Warrick could see you so we don't have to worry about that."

Jim pushed up into a sitting position and winced when his head protested. "Yes we do, what about Warrick? He didn't know about us." Jim's mind was clearing a little although he still didn't remember changing. "You said it yourself, Al, the fewer humans who know about us the better."

"According to Gil it was a threat to our young Warrick that caused you to change." Doc Robbins looked closely at Jim. "Gil also said you had someone you'd have liked your mate to be."

"Mate?" Jim squeaked. "I don't think I got that far in the readings; what are you talking about?"

"Oh dear," Al said, looking amused and concerned. "You're not homophobic, are you Jim?"

"Of course not, you don't see me objecting to Gil and Nick, do you?"

"In the abstract is one thing; how would you feel if I told you that you have to take Warrick to your bed and make love to him?" Al looked down at the unconscious form on the bed for a moment. "I've done better," he sighed. Robbins settled Jim back under the covers and left to find Gil.

Warrick was sitting on Grissom's sofa talking with Nick. Part of his wanted to deny anything had happened in the desert, to call Nick and Grissom liars, but the rest of him, especially the part that had touched the silver scales, wanted to know more.

"One thing you have to understand, Warrick, is that you can't talk about this with anyone in the lab," Nick was saying. "Doc Robbins, Gil, Jim, you and me; that's it. This secret has been kept for over 200 years and we can't risk it leaking out. Think what would happen if the feds found out about Gil and Jim. Our dragons would vanish and we would probably die."

"No offense, Nick, but who the hell would believe me?" Warrick asked. "Can't you just see Cath and Sara's reactions? Oh hey, guess what, someone tried to kill me at that desert crime scene and Brass turned into this silver dragon to save me." He laughed. "Sure, that'd sound real good wouldn't it? Probably be me taken away and tested."

Gil walked into the room with three mugs of coffee. He handed off two and sat down on the sofa behind Nick. "It's not just that, Warrick," he said seriously. "We do need to keep hidden but the relationships that are formed could be considered just as, if not more important and delicate."

"What?" Nick and Warrick said together.

"You haven't explained about the bonds?" Gil asked.

"Nope, just about to get there," Nick replied. "You could check in with Doc Robbins and see how Jim is doing rather than sitting there making Warrick nervous."

Grissom smiled. "I thought that was Greg," he said softly. Gil kissed Nick's neck gently and left the room.

"You and Gris?" Warrick asked, eyes wide.

Nick grinned. "You're not going to go all phobic on me are you?" he asked. "That's what Gil was talking about. The dragons are born in human form and will only change when the one person they truly love is in mortal danger. Once the dragon changes they and the human who forced the change are bonded for life. Yes sex is a part of it, a large part, but there is so much more. Gil and I have been bonded since that scene last month and are only just beginning to stabilize. Jim followed us on Gil's first nonforced change and we found out he'd read the histories. Doc Robbins is an unchanged dragon, he never found his mate, so he's a teacher."

Warrick's head was spinning. "So how do you know so much about this?" he asked.

"Because I met an unchanged dragon when I was a kid," Nick said. "I guess he saw the potential for bonding in me because he taught me everything. I've known about Gil forever."

"Did Gris know?"

"No, I had to convince him that he was a dragon and I wasn't lying to him," Nick laughed. "But you know how much he loves learning, now that he's accepted it's a part of him he's reading every lore book and journal he can. At this rate he'll know more than the ancient scholars."

"Hey Nick, back up a little," Warrick said. "Are you saying that Jim Brass is in love with me?"

"I wondered if you picked up on that," Nick replied. "We're not talking love in the normal sense here, Rick. We're talking souls communicating with each other. Sex and preference don't matter here and the bond needs to be completed."

Warrick's gaze dropped to his shoes. "You've probably noticed," he said softly. "I don't know why but lately I've been thinking how hot Brass is."

"Yeah, Gil and I both have," Nick said. "But it doesn't make you a bad person, man. Chances are it was the bond starting to form."

"I know I'm not the only one who's been watching him though," Warrick said. "What if he doesn't want me?"

"He'll want you," Nick said. "You're going to call to him and it will be the most intense experience of your life. You're his now and he's yours. Nothing can or will change that."

"Really?"

Nick laughed. "Yeah, Rick, really."
********************

"Albert, how's Jim doing?" Gil asked quietly.

"I think we may have a problem, Gil," Robbins replied just as softly. "I know for a fact that Jim read through the sections on true mates and bondings. But when I mentioned it to him just now he denied it and passed out when I told him about Warrick."

Grissom sighed. "I know Warrick's been flirting with Jim for a while not but I never saw any reaction from Jim," he said. "You never saw them in the early days; they were constantly at each others throats."

"So the human will accept the bond," Al commented. "But we may have a problem with the dragon."

"Let's go to my office and sit down," Gil said. "I'm still puzzled about a few things."

"Like what?"

"Nick mentioned to me that they might not be able to finalize the bond," Gil said, sitting down. "I don't understand, I thought that the gender of the human partner didn't matter once the bond was realized."

"Technically it doesn't," Al said. "But Nick is right; if Jim holds any part of himself back then the bond will be unequal, they'll both get sick and die."

"And we can't force it," Gil commented. "Let me talk to Jim. I know what he's going through; Nicky threw me for a loop when I changed the first time. Maybe I can help Jim see how good this actually is."
********************

"I know you're awake, Jim," Gil said, shutting the door behind him. "You're being unfair to Warrick and I want to know why. Is it because he's a man? Are you homophobic?"

"Gil, I," Jim started, opening his eyes and looking at his friend. "Lying to Al wasn't a good idea, was it?"

"No," Gil said. He sat down and looked at Jim. "Let me draw it blind. You notice that both Warrick and Catherine are flirting with you and you flirt back in your own, quiet way. Then you start to develop a preference for one of them and it scares you because of your past."

Jim sat up slowly. "It was Rick, Gil; it's always been Warrick," he admitted softly. "Do you have any idea what it cost me to admit that to myself? Why do you think I was always so hard on him? I was in denial."

"Well you need to think this through carefully now, Jim, because you could kill Warrick."

"How?"

"I just found out about it myself," Gil said. "But if you hold back or try and hide from him while you're completing the bond then you'll both get sick and die. This is a total partnership and you both have to be open and honest with the other."

"That's got to be hard for you."

Gil smirked. "I can't hide anything from Nicky," he said. "And I don't want to. He's my other half and once you complete your bond and blend, you'll know exactly what I mean."

"How's Warrick handling the news?" Jim asked. "I don't want to force him into anything he doesn't want."

"He's nervous but excited," Gil said. "I'll talk with Al and Nick but it sounds like even after your bond you'll have to be taught. Neither of you had any serious lessons prior to a week ago and that makes this even more difficult."

"Whatever you say, Gil," Jim sighed. "I feel really funny, like I'm on a boat or something."

"That's the bond wanting to be completed," Gil said. "I'll get Warrick and the rest of us will go get breakfast to give you time alone to complete the bond. You can't hurt him, Jim, unless you try and hold back. Give Warrick every part of you and everything will be just fine."
********************

Warrick wiped his hands on his jeans before he knocked on the door. His heart was pounding and he was nervous. Nick had been telling him about some kind of protective magic that would keep him from harm but he was still going to have to trust Jim.

"Hey, Rick, come in," Jim said. "So are you as nervous about this as I am?"

"Probably," Warrick said. "So, did you know anything about this?"

Jim sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh. "A little from my childhood," he said. "But I forgot all about it until Sanders mentioned something to me at the lab. It's been a bit of a whirlwind since then."

"Well this is all brand new to me," Warrick commented, leaning against the wall. "But I'm willing to learn more."

"That's good; so they filled you in?"

"Yeah," Warrick replied. "I've got to admit to some nerves but Nick and Gil say to trust you."

Jim started laughing. "That's a lot to put on me when the first man I've ever looked at is standing across the room from me," he said. "Why don't you at least come over here and sit down? I don't bite, at least not in this form."

Warrick chuckled. "You were so beautiful as a dragon, Jim," he said, joining the other man on the bed. "Nick told me it's natural for the humans to be enthralled with their dragons but, man, I wish I'd had my camera with me."

"I'll have to change again at some point," Jim said. He screwed up his nerve and took Warrick's hand in his own. "Ask Nick what the rules about pictures are."

"So how're we going to do this?"

"Well, I suppose the most pressing question is have you ever been with a guy before?" Jim asked.

"One, years ago," Warrick replied. "But I don't remember a lot of it. Gris and Nick told me there's some kind of magic that'll keep me safe. Do you know about that?"

"Only what I've read," Jim said. "But I do know that I have to be the one to claim you."

Warrick caught Jim's hand in his own. "That sounds like a plan to me," he said softly. "Do you feel like the air is thicker between us?"

"That's the bond wanted to be finalized," Jim said. "I want you to know, Rick, it's always been you. I flirted with Catherine but I've always wanted you."

"Me too, Jim, and I'm not sorry it came down like this."

Neither man was sure who leaned forward first as their lips met in a soft but firm kiss, just testing the waters. Jim, however, was the one to deepen the kiss, running his tongue along Warrick's lips and moaning as he was granted access to his lover's mouth. He brought his hands up to grasp Warrick's shirt as he leaned back, taking his lover down onto the bed with him.

"Never felt like this," Warrick panted, trying to figure out how to get Jim's shirt off. "I want more, Jim, please."

The older man rolled them so he was on top and leaned in to reclaim Warrick's mouth in a hard bruising kiss. He ran his hands up under Warrick's shirt to tease at his nipples and also to try and push the shirt off.

"Let's strip," Warrick whispered. "It'll be easier."

"But not as much fun."

"Next time," Warrick promised. "When we're not so frantic for each other."

Jim nodded and moved, noting absently that his joints weren't giving him trouble for the first time in as long as he could recall. Once both men were naked they fell back on the bed, arms and legs tangling as they moved closer and closer to completing their bond.
********************

Nick and Gil tiptoed back into their house a few hours later. "So, do you think they managed to bond?" Nick asked, securing the house behind them.

"I hope so," Gil replied seriously. "I'd hate to lose either of them for any reason, but to lose them because of something they can control is horrible. But I suppose we won't know until Jim attempts to blend, will we?"

"No," Nick said. "And that'll probably be a couple of weeks yet. They both have a lot to learn before we can let them go that far."

Gil came up behind Nick and pulled the younger man into a hug. "I say we go to bed," he said. "I wanted to jump you last night and pull you into a storage closet or my office and take you but I held back. I knew you don't like the thought of sex at work but I've been craving you since we went on shift."

Nick smiled and turned to face his dragon. "So we simply set the alarm an hour early and then it's only twelve hours instead of twenty four for you to wait," he said. "I'm never going to tell you no, Gil. I might just insist on waiting a bit."

"Are you going to insist on it now?" Gil asked eyes dark and glowing.

"Hell no!" Nick pulled away and stripped out of his clothes before grabbing Gil's hands and pulling him towards the bedroom. Once there he quickly stripped his dragon and pushed him back onto the bed. Gil had just managed to prop himself up on his elbows when Nick straddled his hips and impaled himself on Gil's cock, the special magic between dragon and bonded human keeping his body from harm.

"You aren't the only one who doesn't like waiting, Gil," he moaned, starting to move. "There are nights I need you so bad it's all I can do to keep my hands to myself."

"Nicky," Gil gasped, hands running over any bare skin he could find. "Need you so much."

It was over far too soon and not soon enough as Nick collapsed slowly down onto Gil's chest and purred as his lover wrapped him into a tight hug. They drifted off to sleep, happy and satisfied with their lives.